Iran's Hopes for Advancement Live On, But Player Doesn't Mince Words: 'It's Not Fair'

Belgium entered their final group stage match under pressure, having drawn with Egypt (1-1) and Iran (0-0), leaving their progression uncertain. They ultimately topped the group with five points, ahead of the African nation on goal difference. In Vancouver, they finally showcased their attacking prowess, with Leandro Trossard bagging two goals, complemented by strikes from Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, and Alexis Saelemaekers.

“I feel very good. I think we are improving throughout the tournament, and so am I. We are very happy to finish first and advance to the next stage,” stated Man of the Match Trossard, according to AP.

“I think he’s been the best player for the Belgian squad since the start of the World Cup. Before the game, I asked him to be more decisive in his play and to challenge opponents more. He’s scored a lot of goals for Arsenal, so he’s perfectly capable of it, and that’s exactly what he did tonight,” said coach Rudi Garcia regarding Trossard.

The “Red Devils” are yet to discover their next opponent, but it will be one of South Korea, Senegal, Ecuador, or the third-best team from Group J. Goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois reached a significant milestone, surpassing Enzo Scifo's national record with 18 World Cup appearances. “Of course, I’m very proud of that. I don’t think I’ll catch Jan Vertonghen or Romelu Lukaku in terms of total matches, so having the most World Cup games in history right now is something very special. I think if we reach the quarter-finals, we could have a decent chance, and then anything is possible in football. But we’ll take it game by game. I don’t think we have the same quality as in 2018, but we have a very good team,” he revealed to fifa.com.

New Zealand finished last in the group with one point from a 2-2 draw with Iran. Elijah Just scored a consolation goal against Belgium in the 84th minute. “It’s really disappointing. Of course, we knew it would be a big task; Belgium has a lot of quality. We tried, we kept it tight in the first half, but I think as the game progressed, they showed their quality and deserved to go through,” admitted the 26-year-old winger.

 In Seattle, both goals came within the opening fifteen minutes, and Iran could have sensationally snatched a victory in second-half stoppage time, but Shoja Khalilzadeh's precise strike was disallowed for a tight offside. The “Pharaohs” will face Australia in the Round of 16, while three-point Iran will await developments in the third-placed teams' standings.

However, concerns arose in the Egyptian camp after Salah was substituted in the 57th minute due to a problem with his left knee. “I spoke with Salah, and he told me he would be fine and it’s not a major injury. We still have time to talk with the medical team. I think he will return, and when I spoke with him, he assured me he would be okay,” clarified coach Hossam Hassan.

 Should they succeed against Australia, his squad will face the winner of the Argentina - Cape Verde match in the Round of 16. “We are undefeated, and we are proud of that. From the beginning, I said it would be a tough group stage. It’s an honor to advance to the next phase. I would like to thank my players because they brought immense joy to our fans. I’m not thinking about our next opponent; we are ready to play against anyone. We are capable of playing our own style of football, adapting, and respecting every opponent. We will not be afraid of anyone,” added the 59-year-old manager.

 Iran had to contend with challenging conditions during the tournament due to the conflict in the Middle East, yet they have a chance to advance from the group for the first time in history. “I’m sad, but we have hope, don’t we? There’s always hope, and after the match, there was a good atmosphere in the locker room. So we’ll see what happens. I’m looking forward to tomorrow’s matches,” noted striker Mehdi Taremi after the game.

 However, the thirty-three-year-old Olympiacos player did not spare criticism for FIFA. The national team played all their matches in the USA but has their training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, and must travel for matches less than a day before kickoff, returning immediately afterward. “We love the people in Mexico and Tijuana. But as a professional player in a professional competition, I have to say it’s not right. We traveled again now and are going back to Tijuana. So, no recovery, nothing. In our opinion, it’s not fair,” Taremi added.